A location search auxiliary system used in a cellular radio telephone. The location search auxiliary system includes an auxiliary battery and a search signal receiver. If the cellular radio telephone is not equipped with a main battery or if the main battery mounted therein is substantially discharged, the search signal receiver is operated by power from the auxiliary battery. If a search signal is transmitted to the search signal receiver, the cellular radio telephone generates an alarm tone or a voice message indicating that it is a missing telephone.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A location search auxiliary system used in a cellular radio telephone having a main battery to supply operating power to the cellular radio telephone, comprising: an auxiliary battery; a search signal receiver operated by power supplied from the auxiliary battery, to receive a search signal, and to generate an alarm signal for a predetermined time period; a power fail detector for detecting a power fail state when the main battery voltage drops below a prescribed level; a first switch connected between the auxiliary battery and the search signal receiver and switched ON when the power fail state is detected, to supply power from the auxiliary battery to the search signal receiver; and means for generating an indication of location of the telephone when the alarm signal is generated.
2. The location search auxiliary system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: an emergency power supply connected to the auxiliary battery for generating emergency power using the power of the auxiliary battery; a second switch connected between the first switch and the emergency power supply and switched ON by the alarm signal; a voice processor connected to the emergency power supply and to a speaker and operated when the emergency power is supplied as a result of the main battery power being interrupted; and a controller connected to the emergency power supply and operated when the emergency power is supplied as a result of the interruption of main battery power, thereby providing the means for generating the location indicator in response to the alarm signal.
3. The location search auxiliary system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the location indicator is an alarm tone such that the speaker is driven by the voice processor which receives a signal from the generating means.
4. The location search auxiliary system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the location indicator is a voice message indicative of the telephone being lost or misplaced, such that the speaker is driven by the voice processor which receives a signal from the generating means.
5. The location search auxiliary system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the search signal receiver generates the alarm signal only for a predetermined time period.
6. The location search auxiliary system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the search signal receiver generates the alarm signal only for a predetermined time period.
7. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone using a location search auxiliary system, the method comprising the steps of: connecting an auxiliary battery to a search signal receiver automatically when a main battery power level falls below a predetermined level; detecting whether a search signal generated by a user of the cellular radio telephone is received or not; switching the auxiliary battery to an emergency power supply when the search signal is detected; and generating an alarm signal.
8. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone as recited in claim 7 , wherein the search signal is generated by dialing the telephone's number from another phone.
9. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone as recited in claim 7 , wherein the location notification is an audible alarm generated by the telephone.
10. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone as recited in claim 7 , wherein the location notification is a voice message indicating that the cellular radio telephone has been lost or misplaced.
11. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone as recited in claim 8 , wherein the location notification is an alarm tone generated by the telephone.
12. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone as recited in claim 8 , wherein the location notification is a voice message indicating that the cellular radio telephone has been lost or misplaced.
13. A method for locating a cellular radio telephone as recited in claim 8 , wherein the location notification is a visible signal generated by the telephone.
14. A location search auxiliary system used in a cellular radio telephone for locating the mobile telephone, the system comprising: a main battery to supply operating power to the mobile telephone; an auxiliary battery; a search signal receiver for receiving a search signal, and generating an alarm signal upon receiving the search signal; a power fail detector for detecting a power fail state of the main battery; a first switch for connecting the auxiliary battery to the search signal receiver to supply power when the power fail state of the main battery is detected; a second switch for switching the auxiliary battery to an emergency power supply when the search signal is detected; and means for generating an indication of location of the telephone when the alarm signal is generated.
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August 13, 1999
May 28, 2002
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